What Is the Synesis Company Which Came Under EU Sanctions
- 17.12.2020, 17:42
EU residents will be prohibited from doing business with it.
According to Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty journalist Rikard Jozwiak, the restrictive measures will affect CJSC Beltechexport, which sells arms and military equipment abroad, OJSC MZKT (the company's wheelbases are used for various weapon systems), as well as private companies Dana Holdings and Synesis LLC, tut.by writes.
The restrictions imposed by the sanctions include a ban on entering the European Union, freezing accounts of both individuals and legal entities, as well as a ban on EU residents directly or indirectly from providing access to funds and cooperating with businesses on the sanctions list. The decision will enter into force after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
What Synesis does
Synesis is dedicated to "cloud solutions for the smart city." So, its flagship product is the Kipod platform, created on the basis of AI and Big Data technologies.
"Kipod instantly searches large amounts of video data, instantly notifies of violations using advanced machine learning algorithms," the description says.
In 2018, in an interview with dev.by, the project manager of Synesis explained that "it's like Google, only for video surveillance," and then added that Kipod is used in four capitals - Minsk, Moscow, Baku, and Astana. So, more than six thousand cameras are connected in the Moscow metro. And in the fall of 2019, Synesis announced the opening of a sales office in Silicon Valley - specifically to promote the system in the United States.
In Belarus, the Kipod technology has become the basis for the implementation of the Republican system for monitoring public security - technical issues, including the installation of cameras, are handled by LLC 24 × 7 Panoptes, a subsidiary of Synesis.
Note that the monitoring system was used by the Belarusian authorities for repressive purposes.
Note that the European Union has approved a sanctions list against Lukashenka's accomplices and companies close to the regime.
List of companies on the sanctions list
JSC "140 Repair Plant" is a state-owned enterprise of the military-industrial complex, which specializes in the repair and modernization of armored vehicles.
JSC "Agat - Electromechanical Plant" - specializes in the production of special equipment for the needs of the Ministry of Defense. Responsible for the creation of the barrier complex "Rubezh."
State Institution "Main Economic Department" under Lukashenka's affairs administration is the largest operator on the non-residential real estate market in Belarus.
Dana Holdings is one of the regime's main financial assistants. The holding maintains close relations with Lukashenka.
Synesis LLC is responsible for the identification of peaceful protesters and the transfer of this data to the regime.
Under Viktar Sheiman's leadership, the administration of Lukashenka's affairs carried out an operation on falsifications in favor of Lukashenka.
OJSC MZKT is a manufacturer of heavy wheeled vehicles which fired employees for political views.
Beltechexport CJSC is a private enterprise-"wallet" of Lukashenka, which is engaged in the export of weapons and military equipment to South America, Asia, etc. It is closely associated with the Ministry of Defense.
The regime's accomplices who have come under European sanctions:
Anatol Sivak - Deputy Prime Minister,
Ivan Eismant - head of BT,
Uladzimir Karanik - former Minister of Health, now - Chairman of the Hrodna Regional Executive Committee,
Natallia Kachanava - Chairperson of the Council of the Republic,
Andrei Shved - Prosecutor General,
Ihar Lutski - Minister of Information,
Vital Stasiukevich - Deputy Head of the Public Security Police of Hrodna,
Siarhei Kalinnik - Head of the Soviet District Internal Affairs Directorate in Minsk,
Victoryja Shabunia - judge of the Central District Court of Minsk,
Aliaksandr Piatrash - judge of the Central District Court of Minsk,
Vadzim Pryhara - head of the Maladzechna ROVD,
Artsem Dunka - Senior Inspector of the DFR KGC,
Ihar Burmistrau - First Deputy Commander of the Internal Troops,
Pavel Lehki - Deputy Minister of Information,
Dzmitry Shumilin - Deputy Head of the Department for Mass Events of the Main Internal Affairs Directorate of the Minsk City Executive Committee,
Andrei Lahunovich - judge of the Soviet District Court of Homel,
Mikalai Varabei - Lukashenka's tame businessman,
Aliaksandr Shakutsin - Lukashenka's tame businessman,
Alena Niakrasava - a judge, has passed "political" sentences since 2007,
Yulia Hustyr - a judge, makes "political" sentences,
Maryna Fedarava - a judge, makes "political" sentences,
Natallia Dziadkova - a judge, makes "political" sentences,
Alena Zhyvitsa - a judge, makes "political" sentences,
Alena Litvina - a judge, makes "political" sentences,
Henadz Bohdan - Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Lukashenka,
Aleh Karazei - Head of the Department of Prevention of the Ministry of Internal Affairs,
Dzmitry Kurjan - Head of the Department of Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs,
Aliaksandr Turchyn - Governor of the Minsk Region,
Viktar Stanislauchyk - Deputy Head of the Savetski District Department of Internal Affairs in Minsk.